This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

autour duquel gravitent des conditionnels

English translation: various possibilities gravitate around

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:autour duquel gravitent des conditionnels
English translation:various possibilities gravitate around
Entered by: Lara Barnett

05:59 Aug 17, 2015
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Article on French sculptor
French term or phrase: autour duquel gravitent des conditionnels
I started this by saying "around which gravitate its conditions", but I am aware I have only created a phrase of translatese here. The text at this point is:

"Chez xx, le trou qui perfore ses sculptures comme ses pastels m’évoque toujours le chas de l’aiguille. Or, le chas, cette entaille légère, est la condition même de l’aiguille qui, sinon, serait vulgaire ferraille ou simple clou, épine ou écharde. Le chas, autour duquel gravitent des conditionnels, permet de raconter une histoire, d’ouvrir l’esprit et la vue, de tarauder l’espace fermé du récit. "

Does anybody have any better ideas?
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:13
various possibilities oscillate around
Explanation:
There are quite a number of ways you could render this. Other ideas might include:

The eye of the needle serves as a focal point, surrounded by possibilities

The eye of the needle plays a central role, clustering around it a host of possibilities

etc.

I think it's one of those cases where you have to translate the idea rather than the specific words.
Selected response from:

David Hayes
France
Local time: 04:13
Grading comment
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3which is surrounded by potentialities
Sébastien GUITTENY
3various possibilities oscillate around
David Hayes


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
which is surrounded by potentialities


Explanation:
A hole dug into a work of art can be interpreted in several / many ways.

Sébastien GUITTENY
France
Local time: 04:13
Works in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
various possibilities oscillate around


Explanation:
There are quite a number of ways you could render this. Other ideas might include:

The eye of the needle serves as a focal point, surrounded by possibilities

The eye of the needle plays a central role, clustering around it a host of possibilities

etc.

I think it's one of those cases where you have to translate the idea rather than the specific words.

David Hayes
France
Local time: 04:13
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 6
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search